Instant Knockout is a nutritional supplement that allegedly helps address your body fat and boost your metabolism.
According to their website, Instant Knockout was originally developed for MMA fighters and boxers in need of cutting fat and retaining muscle as they prepare for weigh-ins.
Instant Knockout claims that their blend of natural ingredients accomplish help you burn fat through 3 mechanisms:
- increasing your metabolism
- suppressing your appetite
- increasing your energy
They state that you can experience these benefits simply by taking 4 gelcaps daily - one first thing in the morning, one before lunch, one in the afternoon, and one before dinner.
Keep in mind, Instant Knockout suggests using their supplement in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise - 2 factors that may offer weight loss on their own.
In this article, we’ll touch on the scientific support available for their blend of ingredients to help you determine if you need to add Instant Knockout to your daily routine.
Instant Knockout Ingredients: Do They Work?
In this section, we’ll touch on each of the ingredients in Instant Knockout to help you determine if the science backs up these lofty claims.
You’ll get each of the following doses in every 4 gelcaps:
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCI) 5 mg and Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 10 mcg
You can obtain B Vitamins from meat, seeds, and nuts. They are thought to support brain and nerve health, red blood cell function, energy metabolism, and weight loss.
Vitamin B6 may offer energy-boosting effects through its role in blood sugar regulation. In a Japanese study, those with type 2 diabetes and a high dietary intake of B6 were less likely to have diabetic eye disease.
Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked with fatigue. While supplementation may boost energy, the effects are likely less noticeable in those with adequate intake.
Zinc (as zinc oxide) 10 mg
Zinc is an essential mineral found in many of the foods that also offer B vitamins. Deficiency is common, especially in those older than 65.
Zinc levels were shown to be significantly lower in obese kids when compared to those at a healthy weight. Low levels were also found to be associated with obesity, elevated BMI, and larger waist circumference in women.
A randomized trial found that 30mg of zinc daily over 4-weeks decreased both BMI and body weight in obese subjects. These effects were also seen in obese children that were randomized to treatment with 20mg per day over 2-months.
Instant Knockout seems to offer one-half to one-third of the amount found beneficial in previous studies.
GTF Chromium (as picolinate) 100 mcg
Chromium is another mineral which is found in beef, fruits, broccoli, and whole-wheat products.
A review of 15 randomized trials found no benefit for energy metabolism at doses ranging from 10-1000mcg.
Regarding weight loss, a review of 20 randomized studies found chromium supplementation offered only mild benefit in overweight and obese individuals.
While chromium seems to offer only mild benefits, positive results are less likely as Instant Knockout offers a dose on the lower end of the spectrum.
Green Tea Extract (leaf) 500mg
Green tea is commonly added to fat-burning products as it may offer a variety of benefits related to boosting energy and sparking weight loss.
The purported benefits of green tea are actually related to its caffeine and catechin content.
When combined with 200mg caffeine, green tea at 90, 200, 300 and 400 mg doses up to 3x daily all seemed to boost energy expenditure to the same degree.
When combined with exercise, 500mg of green tea daily improved body weight, BMI, waist to hip ratio, and body fat percentage better than exercise alone.
Instant Knockout seems to offer plenty of this extract as it was demonstrated to be effective at even much smaller doses.
Green Coffee Extract (bean) 100 mg
Green coffee bean extract (GCBE) offers another source of caffeine and may help reduce appetite.
A review of 3 randomized trials with GCBE doses ranging 180-200mg over 1-4 months found that significant weight loss was achieved when compared to placebo.
Obese women treated with 500mg of GCBE and daily exercise for 2-months also found benefit; they significantly reduced their metabolic syndrome severity scores.
Cayenne Powder (fruit) 100mg
Not just used to spice up your food, cayenne peppers have been included in natural medicine for centuries.
Their active ingredient, capsaicin, is thought to offer a number of health benefits related to increasing your metabolism.
While this effect may be possible, cayenne seems to offer only mild benefits in this regard.
In a randomized trial, those that consumed 1g of cayenne burned an extra 10 calories over the span of 4.5 hours. A review confirmed these findings; capsaicin at high doses seems to boost energy expenditure and fat burning, though only to a minor degree.
Glucomannan (konjac root) 1800mg
This natural, water-soluble dietary fiber is extracted from the roots of the elephant yam or konjac.
Like all fiber, it can absorb water and turn into a gel that takes up space in your stomach. Such absorption leads to a sensation of fullness that may reduce your calorie intake.
This effect did not lead to positive results in a randomized trial. Treatment with 1.3g of glucomannan over 2-months did not improve weight, body composition, or hunger in overweight and obese subjects.
In overweight and obese adults, treatment with 3g of glucomannan for 2-months did not result in significant weight loss or reduction in body fat when compared to placebo.
Even at doses nearly double of what is offered in Instant Knockout don’t seem to offer metabolic benefits.
Caffeine Anhydrous 300mg
Caffeine is a stimulant that has been well studied for its proposed metabolism-boosting effects.
Caffeine given to healthy subjects at 3 mg/kg before physical activity resulted in more fat oxidation when compared to those that didn’t receive caffeine. These effects were less pronounced in obese women, however.
In another study, men that consumed 300mg of caffeine 30 minutes before a meal consumed less food. However, this effect was not seen in women.
While caffeine seems to offer metabolic benefits, the potential for results seems to vary depending on the group of individuals being studied.
Black Pepper Extract (standardized to 95% PE) 10mg
This spice may offer metabolism-boosting benefits in addition to its role in the cuisine.
In overweight individuals randomized to treatment with 6mg of black pepper daily, supplementation led to reduced BMI and body fat.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Most of the ingredients included in Instant Knockout have been well tolerated even when studied at much higher doses.
It does contain 3 different sources of caffeine, however. According to the FDA, the rapid consumption of 1,200mg of caffeine can cause seizures.
In particular, caffeine anhydrous is a highly concentrated form of the stimulant; you may react differently than you have with natural forms of caffeine. This can be especially dangerous if you have a history of heart conditions.
Excess caffeine can lead to restlessness, nausea, agitation, rapid heart rate, and elevated blood pressure.
While 400mg daily is considered to be safe, consuming Instant Knockout in addition to your typical coffee, soda, or tea habits can put you at an unsafe range.
For these reasons, it is imperative to ask a physician about using this product and never consume Instant Knockout in ways other than what is recommended.
How Much Does Instant Knockout Cost and Where Can I Get It?
You can pick up Instant Knockout online from a few vendors, though pricing differs substantially.
Check out the chart below of a cost comparison (1-month supply = 120 gelcaps):
You have a few more options if you purchase through the Instant Knockout Site.
They offer a 2-months supply with free delivery for $11800. The “Ultimate Shredding Stack” comes with a 3-month supply + 1 free bottle for $185.00.
The limited-time offer currently running gets you 3 bottles of instant knockout and 3 free bottles of their women’s fat burner, also priced at $185.00.
Lastly, Instant Knockout backs each purchase with a 90-day guarantee.
Available Alternatives
With so many individuals interested in burning fat, many vendors offer supplements that claim to accomplish this task.
Of the products that offer natural ingredients, you’ll often find some overlap though formulations vary vendor to vendor.
Smart Burn from bpi Sports offers both caffeine anhydrous and green tea extract in their powdered blend. A 15-day supply will run you $26.99.
You’ll recognize some of the ingredients offered in Transform from Evlution Nutrition: a 30-day supply of capsules includes B vitamins, green tea extract, caffeine, and black pepper extract for $22.49.
Though this blend is not identical to Instant Knockout, it may be a more cost-effective means of accomplishing your goal at less than half the price.
As the ingredients offered in Instant Knockout are commonly added to fat burning supplements, they can also be obtained individually. This method may be less convenient and even more expensive.
The Bottom Line
Instant Knockout does offer a blend of natural ingredients that seem to have some scientific support regarding their metabolic effects.
However, some of these ingredients lack strong support, while others were found effective at doses much higher than those provided in this supplement.
Also, Instant Knockout contains 3 different sources of caffeine. While this stimulant may offer metabolism-boosting benefits, it can be unsafe when taken in excess.
Refrain from use other than as directed, do not ingest at bedtime, and be mindful of other sources of caffeine you consume like coffee or soda.
At HighYa, 25 users rated this product with an average of 1.3 out of 5-stars. Unhappy customers cite a lack of results and a failure to honor the 90-day guarantee as reasons for their poor experience.
When you combine this information with the hefty price tag, you may want to seek fat-burning help elsewhere.
As Instant Knockout suggests use with 2 proven methods of weight loss, diet and exercise, you may want to start with these lifestyle changes before adding a supplement like this.
Nonetheless, if you’re still interested in using this or any similar products, always speak with your doctor first.
